In an unusual precedent, the Incredibly Strange section of the New Zealand International Film Festival is handing out awards to films before they have even screened to the general public. The film festival doesn’t officially open until July 9th but several films have already been bestowed awards.
Festival Programmer Ant Timpson had this to say regarding his controversial decision,
“I already know these films are very special. I don’t need a jury to tell me what I already know. I’m giving these films awards in advance because 99% of the public don’t care what films win awards AFTER they’ve screened, they want to know BEFORE they screen. Call me a ground-breaking loose canon if you must but maybe, just maybe, the public would prefer to know what films win awards before a festival has finished!”
The Inaugural Strangies for this year are;
BEST FILM ABOUT VIRAL PHENOMENA & WHY SUSAN BOYLE WAS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN
And the Winner is “Winnebago Man.”
BEST FILM TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT YOU CAN NEVER HIDE FROM YOUR PAST
And the Winner is “Best Worst Movie.”
BEST FILM TO PUT YOUR PARTNER OFF EVER WANTING CHILDREN
And the Winner is “Grace.”
BEST FILM FOR PAIRING TWO WORDS THAT SHOULD BE PAIRED MORE OFTEN : NAZIS & ZOMBIES
And the Winner is “Dead Snow.”
BEST FILM FOR SAM RAIMI FANS WHO WANTED HIM TO RETURN TO HORROR
And the Winner is “Drag Me To Hell.”
BEST FILM TO SHOW THOSE ANNOYING FRIENDS WHO SAY THEY’VE SEEN IT ALL
And the Winner is “Embodiment of Evil.”
BEST FILM TO SHOW FILMMAKERS THAT LOW-BUDGET DOESN’T MEAN TWENTY SOMETHINGS SITTING IN CAFES TALKING ABOUT THEIR BORING RELATIONSHIPS
And the Winner is “The Horseman.”
BEST FILM TO REVEAL THAT SEX, BLOOD & RELIGION WILL ALWAYS MAKE GREAT ART
And the Winner is “Thirst.”
BEST FILM THAT PROVES THAT THE BEST WORST MOVIES ARE BETTER THAN THE WORST BEST MOVIES.
And the Winner is “Troll 2.”
BEST FILM TO PROVE THAT FOUR HOURS FLIES BY WHEN SAID FILM CONTAINS MASS MURDER AND UPSKIRT PHOTOGRAPHY
And the Winner is “Love Exposure.”
At that secret web location you will find all the information needed for your cinematic journey into the wonderful unknown. The website contains additional information on the films as well as all the handy Icons which are useful for people who don’t read anymore.
For further information on the Festival, please contact publicists:
Auckland – Anders Falstie
anders@nzff.co.nz / 09 376 5373
All other regions – Rebecca McMillan
rebecca@nzff.co.nz / 0274 555 061
Incredibly Strange’s
Ant Timpson / ant@woosh.co.nz
